Universal joint



Jan. 6, 1931. H. D. CHURCH 1,788,083

UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed March l, 1926 V BY I AT ORNEYS l Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD D. CHURCH, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WHITE IOTOB OOHTANY, I' CLEVELAND, OHIO, CORPORATION Ol' OHIO Application Illed laren 1, 1828. Serielle. 91,351.

As' .An object of this invention is to provide 'a universal` joint which may be effectively -protected against dirt and other abrasive substances. y f

1 Another object is to provide a universal lo joint which may be readily and economically manufactured.

Other objects will hereinafter appear. The invention will be more readily understood from a description of one practical em- 35 bodiment thereof, illustrated in the accom- -pan g drawings in which Firgllll is a vertical longitlidinal section of a universal joint for connecting the drag link or crossbar to the steering arm in an auto- 90 mobile steering mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the joint illustrated in Fig. 1.`

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. The apertured end or hub of Va steering arm is illustrated at 1, and a member is shown at 2v having a threaded tubular shank in which the end of the drag link is secured. The joint consists of a pin carried by the arm 1 and a socket carried by the shank 2. This pin consists of a shank 3 which is fitted into the aperture in the end of the arm, and hasV a shoulder 4 at the upper side thereof, the arm bein clamped between this shoulder and a nut 5 t readed on the end of the shank. Above the shoulder, the pivot member is y, rovided with a head 6 which has concentric inner and outer segmental spherical surfaces 7 and 8, the extent of these surfaces being tshown as substantially a hemisphere.

` The'head extends into a socket 9 which has an inner segmental spherical surface complementary to the outer surface 7 of the head and an outer segmental spherical surface 10 concentric thereto. The lower end of the socket is apertured at 11 to accommodate the shank of the pivot member. Above the spherical surfaces, the socket extends upward? nd is provided at 12 with an internal A cap 13 is provided with a downwardl de ending' flan threaded to engage the thea of the sockeeand with a recess 14 to'receive one end of a strong spiral spring 15. V

The lower end of the spring 15 is received in a recess in a segmental sepherical shoe 16 which bears upon the concave surface of the pivot member head as shown, and thus maintains the spherical bearing surfaces in contact.

The member 2 consists of a tubular shank 17 internally threaded at 18 to engage corresponding threads on the rod to which it is joined. The lower part of this shank is split as indicated at 19 and is provided with perforated lugs to receive bolts which clamp the shank tightly upon the rod.

One end of the shank is formed into a split 21 which is rovided adjacent the split wit bosses 22 w 'ch are erforated to receive a bolt 20. This split ring embraces the socket and is tightly clamped thereto by the bolt. The bolt also engages a groove in the socket at and so prevents an longitudinal or angular movement thereofs.7

The cap 13 is provided with a notched or serrated flange 25, the serations of which are engaged by a pawl 26 bolted upon member 2 as shown. The cu is also provided with a valve 24 through w 'ch lubricant may be supplied to the interior.

A cup shaped sleeve 27 is clamped between the shoulder 4 and the arm 1. The sleeve extends upwardly and outwardly to a point adjacent the spherical surface 10 and at its cess for receiving a felt ring 28 which bears upon the surface 10, forming a seal to retain any lubricant that may escape past surface 7 to within the sleeve, and preventing dust and dirt from reaching the interior of the joint.

Due to the large diameter of the top of the head of the pivot member and its being entirely exposed to the lubricant reservoir within the socket, a relatively large amount of lubricant is supplied to the bearing surfaces 7 as well as to bearing surfaces 8, so that they are alwa s well lubricated and wear thereon isv very si ht.

By making the head of the pivot hollow,

85 Y ends-1s bent to provide a circumferential rethe height of the joint is greatly reduced, as the shoe and most of the spring are located below what would be the top of the pivot member if its head were a complete sphere. This reduction in height renders the joint very compact, and makes it possible to produce a neat and attractive joint having very little overhang.

The angular extent of the several spherical surfaces is relatively small, so that these may be much more readlly machined than would be the case for a complete ball.

The socket which is the part most subject to wear, is of convenient size, has no projections and can therefore be readily and economically roduced. When worn, the socket can be readily replaced by merely removing bolt 20 and sliding the socket out of the split ring, and then removing thel pivot member, shoe and spring. It being unnecessary to remove member 2 from its rod, the adjustment of the steering mechanism is not disturbed.

The pivot member, socket, shoe, spring and cap are a bench assembly and may be readily replaced as a unit in substantially the same manner as the socket alone.

Moreover, it will be readily seen that the parts are simple, requiring few manufacturlng operations thereon of sturdy construction, and readily assembled.

v While I have illustrated and describedwhat is now the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious that many variations and modifications thereof will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and I therefore do not limit myself to the precise details of the embodiment shown but to claim as my invention all such various modifications that come within the scope of the subj oined claims.

I claim:

1. A universal joint assembly comprising a cylindrical socket, a closure for one end thereof, the other end of the socket being provided with a segmental spherical surface surrounding an aperture, a pivot member having a hollow semi-spherical head bearing upon said segmental surface ofthe socket, and a shank extending through the aperture, a spherical segmental shoe engaging the inner surface of said head, a spring between said shoe and said closure, said shoe and said head bein spaced from said closure to provide a su stantially closed lubricant reservo1r.

2. A universal joint assembly comprising a cylindrical socket, a closure for one end thereof, the other end of the socket being provided with asegmental spherical surface,v

surrounding an aperture, a pivot member having a hollow segemental spherical head bearing upon said segmental surface of the socket, and a shank extending through the aperture, aspherical segmental shoe engaging the inner surface of said head, a spring between said shoe and said closure, said-shoe and said head being spaced from said closure to form a lubricant reservoir.

3. A universal joint comprising a pivot member having a convex lower and a concave upper segmental imperforate surface, a socket having a`concave segmental surface bearing on'the convex surface of said pivot member, a convex-segmental shoe engaging the concave surface of said pivot member, a sprin interposed between said socket and said s oe, and a central perforation through said shoe.

"1.' A. universal joint comprising a cylindrieal socket, a closure for oneend thereof, the other. end being defined with a concave spherical segmental surface surrounding an aperture, a pivot member having a hollow segmental spherical head bearing on said surface of the socket and a shank extending" ing sur ace at one end thereof, a pivot member in said end including means closing said aperture, said pivot member including an outer convex spherical segmental bearin surface complementary to said first name surface and an inner concave bearing surface concentric with said outer surface, a segmental convex spherical shoe within and complementary to said inner surface, a lubricant passage through said shoe and a recess on the bottom of said shoe, said passage and said recess communicating with the inner surface of said pivot member, said inner surface being adapted to direct lubricant flow from said passage radially outward and to return' lubricant to said reservoir.

6.' A universal joint comprising a. hollow` socket constituting alubricant reservoir, a.

centrall apertured concave spherical segmental caring surface at one end thereof, a pivot member in said end and including an outer convex spherical segmental bearing surface complementary to said irst named surface and an inner concave bearing surface concentric with said outer surface, a segmental convex spherical shoe within and complementary to said inner surface, means carried by said pivot member closing said socket to retain lubricant therein, the bearing surfaces between said pivot member and said shoe opening directly into said lubricant reservoir.

7 In a joint for a member arranged to transmit thrust axially thereof and having a socket secured thereto, said socket having an annular spherical wallsurrounding an' signature this 17th-day of Februar aperture opening therethrough substantially at right an les to the axis of said member, and a secon member having a shank extending through said aperture, a. head on said shank disposed within said socket, said head.

havin an external spherical surface complementa to the spherical surface of said socket and an internal s herical surface concentric therewith,v a shoe aving a spherical surface engaging the internal spherical surface of said head, and a 'spring disposed between said shoe and said socket.

8. A universal joint comprising a socket having a concave annular wall surrounding an aperture, a pivot member including a shank extending through said aperture and a convex head bearing against said annular wall, a shoe engaging said headand a spring disposed between said shoe and a wall of said socket and urging said shoe against said head, said shoe being s aced in all directions from said socket where y said shoe and said head may oscillate as a unit in all directions with respect to said socket.

.In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 1926. HAROLD D. C CH. 

